CHAPTER THREE

Lilly forced herself to think of enough happy thoughts to make her snake appear on her shoulder. She couldn't keep the force field up where she couldn't see it so created a new one a few feet from the entrance.

She opened the doors and a rush of icy cold air threatened to knock her off her feet. Her Patronus flickered slightly as she took several deep breaths.

"I know what you want." She called. The Dementors gathered around her staying just outside the circle of her light, "I understand that you're angry, we took away your all you can eat buffet. I have a proposal for you. You can fight us, we might well win though or you can take me. Just me and leave everyone else and this castle alone. I will not stand against you, I won't fight but you don't hurt anyone else. Yes you wont get us both but this way guarantees you get one."

The answer was clear as the Dementors immediately stopped their attack and floated forming a path for Lilly to leave the castle.

I wish they would make some noise

Lilly said to herself, they were so quiet all she could hear was the people behind he and that she was trying desperately not to listen to. She hummed to herself, a tune she couldn't quiet remember let alone the words but it filled her head in quiet music.

April watched helplessly as Lilly took frozen steps out into the field. The Dementors swarmed around her and she flicked off her glowing Patronus.

Lilly tried to hold onto the happy thoughts in her head as they were sucked out one by one, to be replaced with all the worst memories, screaming filling her head. She tried to focus on the pale ribbons floating out of her to the Dementors gaping mouths.

"This is wrong." Lucius said, "I can't watch this."

"My sister is dying out there, or worse! 'wrong' doesn't cover it." April sobbed, she could feel the force field weakening under her fingers as Lilly weakened on the other side.

April looked up and saw the crowd of people around her. She was hugely grateful that she didn't share Lilly's ability for empathy.

Lucius squeezed his fists and pushed his way through the crowd. Narcissa stood at the back of the crowd with her family. Helena balanced on her hip while Thorbjorn clutched at her skirt.

"I didn't want them to see." Narcissa explained.

"I know and it's the right thing. Mary, Jacob I need you to get all the students back into the hall." Lucius told them hugging them close.

"No we want to help." Mary said loudly

"No." Draco said, "I can't see you be a part of this. Please take Tasha and keep her safe. I can't see you fight in a war." He all but begged.

"This isn't a war. It's a slaughter." Jacob spat taking his sisters hands and dragging them away, back into the heart of the castle.

Lucius took Narcissa's shoulders and blinked back the tears, "I love you, I will always love you. Take care of them. Our son and our amazing daughter."

"Where are you going?" Narcissa asked panicked.

"We can't stand alone." Lucius whispered shrugging his shoulders.

He gave her a final kiss and quickly made his way through the crowd. The force field was barely there now and it only took a small flick of his wand to create a rip big enough for him to step though before it snapped closed behind him. Lilly was clearly using what little energy she had to keep it up.

Lilly was on her knees on the ground by this point barely able to keep herself even that up right. Lucius ran up to her ignoring the Dementors starting to feed off him as well. He knelt down next to her and held her on his knee.

"It's OK. You're not alone. What can I do?"

Lilly's head rolled on his arm; she was to far gone and couldn't speak. He tried to ignore how much he was also beginning to suffer. He felt totally helpless, it was pointless that he'd left as well. Her nose was bleeding again. He took his sleeve and wiped the blood away.

Blood